There is something about old black and white photographs - the way they flatten and simplify scenes; the way they mask so much and reveal even more. I'm sure we saw scenes in black and white as soon as we looked through the viewfinder back in those days - we had monochrome eyes. Colour was … Continue reading Monochrome Home
An Excursion To Burslem
We all have ways of passing the hours; exercises in pointless occupation that relax and revive our troubled minds. I like to wander through my old negative albums trying to track down where I took photographs half a century or more ago. Today's excursion on Google Earth took me down Newcastle Street, Burslem - fifty-four … Continue reading An Excursion To Burslem
Ring O’Bells
I took this photo of the Ring O'Bells pub in Halifax over 50 years ago. You can tell it's old, not because its a black and white photo (there are filters that can fake that), nor because the building is old (it's even older now). It's partly the signage - or lack of it - … Continue reading Ring O’Bells
A Portrait Of Lena
Dear Lucy, Just a card to wish you many happy returns of the day. I had not got a proper birthday card so I thought perhaps you would like this as well. It is not a very good one but you can see who it is. I remain yours sincerely, Lena Bush.
Gladys, Albert And Cat
There is, of course, a famous 1971 Hockney painting entitled "Mr and Mrs Clark and Percy". My photograph predates that by a good 35 years and is entitled "Mr and Mrs Burnett and Cat". The two main subjects are my parents, and the photo was probably taken in Bradford in about 1936. Coincidentally, Hockney was … Continue reading Gladys, Albert And Cat
Excelsior Forgotten
This photo of my mother sat on my fathers' Excelsior motorbike dates, I think, from the 1940s. It was taken at our house on Southmere Drive in Bradford, and I recognise that path and that fence, even though we moved away from Bradford in 1953 when I was just 5. The fence I remember well, … Continue reading Excelsior Forgotten
The Leaving Of Halifax
This is a recent "messed-about" version of a photo I originally took back in 1968, which features the railway line out of Halifax. My father worked in the factory on the left and for a time, I worked in the mill on the right. Around the time I took this photo I left Halifax for … Continue reading The Leaving Of Halifax
It’s Snowing In Andermatt
At last, the snow and ice are becoming a memory. The snow in today's photo is a memory from 100 years ago. I've no idea who these two are, but the photo is captioned "Andermatt, Switzerland". It's a joyous image - despite the snow.
Neon Memories
This is a photograph of George Square in Halifax, taken - as far as I can remember - in the mid 1960s. You don't get to see much, just a few neon signs and fuzzy shop windows, but you don't need to see much to spark a memory. This is Halifax's answer to Times Square … Continue reading Neon Memories
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